I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

March 28, 2010

The Good Fight

I. Readings
Psalms 84, 150, 42, 32
Zechariah 9:9-12
1 Timothy 6:12-16
Luke 19:41-48

II. Selections
Psalm 42:2b
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?

Zechariah 9:12
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Luke 19:41-42
As [Jesus] came near and saw [Jerusalem], he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. … ”

III. Meditation

When shall we recognize the things that make for peace?
When shall the prisoners of hope receive restoration?
When shall we come and behold your face?

Until these times come, help us
fight the good fight of the faith
to which you have called us.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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